enters the equinoctial signs, his disc appears as if placed on the apex, to a spectator who reclines in an attitude of adoration at the portal: unless such appearance is accidental, is not this an additional reason for concluding that these enormous masses were reared for some far nobler purpose, than to perpetuate the memory of a deceased monarch? May we not rather infer that they were dedicated to the mysterious worship of an Almighty Architect, and that the Deity "who was typified by the outward form of the pile," had solemn rites consecrated to his worship within?1

At the period of their foundation, the face of the adjoining country was in all likelihood totally different from the appearance it now exhibits; and the pyramids were probably seen to rise from spacious areas, surrounded by lofty walls or galleries, enriched with appropriate embellishments. Dr. Shaw is of opinion, that the original design of the entrance was never completed, the stones being placed archwise, and to a greater height than seems necessary for so small a passage; and a considerable space being left on each side, by the discontinuance of several of the parallel rows of steps, which are elsewhere carried entirely round the building, appears to indicate an intention of erecting a large and magnificent portico.

LETTER VI.

TO SIR G. ET, BART.

Cairo.

DEAR E,

The

THE greatest extent of Cairo in the direction of north to south, is between four and five miles; the buildings from east to west are comprised within half that distance. From the hill of Mocatta, which rises immediately above the city, its general outline may be distinctly seen; but the streets are, for the most part, so extremely narrow, that it is quite impossible from that eminence to discern their intersections. most striking objects are the mosques, of which there are said to be nearly three hundred a few of these are very floridly decorated, and resemble the elaborate lightness in some of our most finished specimens of gothic. One circumstance, which cannot fail to arrest the attention of a European, is the profound silence that pervades almost every quarter of this vast capital.

Even the bazaars have not much of the bustle of commercial activity, and the "busy hum of men” is absolutely unknown. In such a community, the voice of the Iman from the minarets, summoning the faithful to their devotions, is never drowned by the heavy rumbling of waggons, or lost in the clatter of more splendid equipages. With the sound of the bell, whose "iron tongue and brazen mouth" awaken in other countries sentiments of awe and devotion, the inhabitants of this associate no idea but disgust or horror; and maintain that a sense of religion is far more effectively kindled, by a reverential repetition of the name and attributes of the Supreme Being.1

The comparatively elevated situation of the buildings is, no doubt, conducive to the health of the inhabitants; but their distance from the river is at

1 A young Turk, in whose intimate society the writer passed nearly a month, and in whose generous and confiding friendship he found a resource in all occurrences of difficulty, explained to him the formula in use on such occasions. The original Arabic cannot be adequately represented in European characters; but the following version, which is given under the disadvantage of a double translation, will sufficiently explain its purport:-God is great. I acknowledge the unity of the Godhead. I proclaim Mahomet to be his apostle. Come, let us fall down in prayer and adoration. God is mighty. God is God alone.

tended with many disadvantages. The inconvenience has, in some measure, been repaired by a canal, which is indeed only practicable during the flood; at other seasons it is worse than useless, and becomes offensive to the senses of sight and smelling: it is however capable of being rendered permanently ornamental, if not of constant utility.

All the principal streets are regularly closed by massive gates at each extremity, every night: an ordonnance of infinite service in securing the public tranquillity, and to which the inhabitants seem perfectly reconciled. The government is, of course, a pure despotism, and what we understand by the term CONSTITUTION, has here neither " a local habitation nor a name:" the processes in the halls of Justice are, of consequence, often very summary, and "the law's delay" is an evil not very generally felt. Minor offences are visited with the penalties of mutilation; but such as are marked by any circumstances of atrocity, seldom escape without death, the culprit being hung in some of the public streets, or near the scene of his delinquency, and not unfrequently over the doorway of the person he has injured. The Turks have

the reputation of being a humane people; and except where their passions are inflamed by some excitement of enthusiasm, are seldom led to the commission of any act of cruelty. Murderers are, therefore, viewed with every aggravated sentiment of horror and detestation the carcase of the condemned criminal is taken to the highway, where the head is severed from the trunk, and both are exposed during three days, to the curses and execrations of the passenger. Guards are appointed to prevent the body being seized by the relations of the culprit, and the putrid remains are left to be devoured by dogs.

The whole of the land of Egypt is the personal property of the Pasha, who may be considered one of the richest individuals on the globe. Certain portions or districts into which the country is divided, are farmed by cultivators, whose tenures are various, but seldom of long duration. The present ruler is called Mahomet Ali. His history is remarkable, being distinguished by those romantic and often affecting incidents, which were perhaps inevitable in a career, that commencing with the humble despotism of a pirate, has been crowned with the possession of sovereign